CLAS-C 205 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Preface, Erebus, Theogony
Document Summary
Wrote during the latter part of the 8th century bc. Known for the theogony and works and days. The first 115 lines of the theogony are called the proemium. Greek epic poets traditionally begin their works with an invocation to the muses. In the promieum of the theogony, we learn about muses and their activity. Hesiod says the nine muses live on mt. They sing praises to zeus, hera and the entire family of immortal gods. Especially to zeus, who defeated kronos, created laws for the gods and gave them their rights. The muses taught hesiod the art of singing verse while he was a shepard on mt. The muses are the nine daughters of zeus and mnemosyne (memory) born in. Zeus visited the bed nine nights and she bore nine daughters all of one mind with song in their breasts. The nine muses are the source of all poetic, artistic and intellectual inspiration.
